Brushing together worked wonders for my daughter too. I think kids naturally want to mimic adults, especially parents or older siblings. Timers and apps were okay at first, but she quickly figured out it was just another chore wrapped in a cute package. What actually got her excited was turning it into a game or a challenge—like seeing who could brush longer or who could make more bubbles. Silly, but effective.
Another thing that helped was storytelling. I'd make up these ridiculous stories about "sugar monsters" hiding in her teeth, and she'd have to brush them away before they built their "sugar castles." Sounds goofy, I know, but it really clicked with her imagination. Now she's older and rolls her eyes at my stories, but hey, whatever works, right?
I'm curious though—has anyone tried those toothbrushes that play music through vibrations? I've seen them advertised but haven't actually bought one yet. Wondering if they're worth the hype or if it's just another gimmick kids lose interest in after a week...
We've tried those musical toothbrushes—honestly, mixed results here. My son loved it at first because it was new and exciting, but the novelty wore off pretty quickly. Still, your storytelling idea is actually genius. Kids respond so well when you tap into their imaginations like that... definitely not goofy if it works! Keep doing what you're doing—sounds like you're on the right track.
Haha, musical toothbrushes are hit or miss for sure. One thing that worked wonders with my niece was turning brushing into a mini "science experiment." We got those plaque-disclosing tablets (the ones that turn your teeth pink or purple), and she thought it was hilarious seeing her teeth change colors. Then we'd brush step-by-step to "erase" the color. It became a nightly game—plus, bonus points for sneaking in some dental hygiene education without her noticing... sneaky uncle win right there.
"We got those plaque-disclosing tablets (the ones that turn your teeth pink or purple), and she thought it was hilarious seeing her teeth change colors."
Wait, those tablets actually worked for your niece? I've seen them at my dentist's office but always wondered if they'd freak kids out. I remember using them myself when I first got braces, and honestly, it stressed me out a bit seeing all that color stuck around the brackets. I kept thinking I'd never get it all off, haha... anxiety central.
But turning it into a game is pretty clever. Wish someone had done that for me when I was younger. My parents tried the musical toothbrush thing too, and yeah, total miss. It just made brushing feel rushed and chaotic. Did anyone else feel like they had to brush faster to keep up with the music? Or was that just me?
One thing that did help me (and still does, embarrassingly enough) was having a timer visible. Like, an actual sand timer or even just a phone timer counting down. Something about seeing the seconds tick away calmed my nerves and made brushing feel manageable. Maybe kids who get anxious or impatient might benefit from something similar?
Also, does anyone else have experience with flavored toothpaste? My younger cousin swears by bubblegum flavor, but personally, I can't stand it. Mint feels cleaner somehow. Curious if flavor really makes a difference for kids or if it's more of a gimmick...
Those tablets can definitely be hit or miss depending on the kid. I've had patients who absolutely love seeing their teeth change colors, while others get a bit overwhelmed by the messiness of it all—especially with braces. Your anxiety about the brackets makes total sense, by the way. And yeah, flavored toothpaste can be helpful for some kids, but it's really individual. Mint does feel cleaner to me too, but hey, if bubblegum gets them brushing regularly, I'm all for it.
